AFTER two consecutive defeats, YMCA’s focus tomorrow when they face Ripon at Laund Hill (3.00) will be to try and find the winning formula that lifted them to the top of Yorkshire II for so long.
Alex Shaw is unavailable for tomorrow’s game, and therefore Nick Clarke, who played at scrum half against Pocklington, takes on the full-back role – which is his more accustomed position – with Simon Wilson returning at No9.
Also out for the Ripon clash is second rower Jack Housley, who suffered a knee injury last week, which gives Neil Walker the chance to play alongside Darren Neilly at lock forward.
Neil Pollock is fit to resume on the bench where he will be joined by Ben Hill and Josh Lumb.
“Tomorrow we are just going to focus on getting back to winning ways,” said coach Jody Shaw.
“I thought the lads put in a big effort last week at Pocklington, but on the day they executed their game plan better than us and starved us of possession.
“I was proud of the effort the lads put in, but on the day it just didn’t come off.
“However, our main aim before the start of the season was to gain promotion and ensure we are playing in Yorkshire I next season, and that is still achievable. First of all we must get back on the winning path, and we know that won’t be easy against Ripon, who ran us close at their place earlier in the season when it needed an injury-time penalty from James Swift to secure a 21-18 win.”
YMCA: Clarke; Beever; Williams, Ryder, Morton; Swift, Wilson; Sanderson, Dyke (Stu), Dyke (Ste), Neilly, Walker, Hodge, Leonne-Mazza, Whitehead. Subs: Pollock, Hill, Dickinson/Lumb.
Thirds: Earnshaw, Dalton, Murphy, Kennedy, Wilkinson, Stafford, Boyles, Rimmer, Morgan, Stephen, Noble, Bull, Millar, Webb, Harris, Frankland, Headifen.
